Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Paediatric Age Group and Recurrent Abdominal Pain

Abstract

  Background: The term ‘recurrent abdominal pain’ or RAP is defined in terms of duration and frequency of pain. The duration is to be defined as: minimum preceding three months, and over this three-month period, minimum3 episodes of pain having severe intensity causing impairment to perform the daily activities by the affected patients. Over many years, more and more organic causes have been identified because of various advances and better knowledge as well as better investigations tools.  The commonest cause of RAP in paediatric age group is found to be H. Pylori infection and it is also treatable. Objective: To find out helicobacter pylori infection frequency in paediatric age group with recurrent abdominal pain. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Hospital:  Pediatrics, DHQ teaching hospital Sargodha from 10th June 2018 to 9th December 2018. Methodology: One hundred children with recurrent abdominal pain were selected using non probability consecutive sampling. H. Pylori serology was done and results presented. Results: The mean age was 7.28±2.6 years. H. pylori infection was seen in 27%. More patients belonged to middle socio economic status. Conclusion: Recurrent abdominal pain in paediatric age group is caused commonly by H. pylori infection and it is easily treatable if detected in early stages.